nichols



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

W. H. NICHOLS, OF EAST HAMPTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO A. H. MARKHAM, W. H. NICHOLS, AND DAVID STRONG, OF SAME PLACE.

COFFIN-SCREW.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,911, dated July 26, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known t-hat I, IV. II. NICHOLS, of East Hampton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Colin-Screw; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a partof this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical central section ot my invention as applied to a real screw. Fig. 2 is a similar section of my in vention as applied to a tack or imitation screw. Fig. 3 is a plan or top view of the plate which I use to retain the cap or cover of the screw. Fig. #l is a similar view of the cap.

Similar letters of reference in all the ligures indicate corresponding parts.

Coffin screws are divided into two distinct classes; one class comprising real screws, intended to fasten two parts of the coflin together; and the other comprising imitation screws, that serve only for ornament, and which usually consist of tacks with their heads covered like the screws. M v invention applies to both these classes, and it consists in a peculiar method of securing the cap or cover of the head of the screws or tacks after the latter have been inserted by passing said screws or tacks through round plates, the edges of which are beveled otl, or screwed, so that the caps can be driven on by a light blow, or screwed on after the screws, or tacks have been driven in to their full length, and that the outward appearance of the caps is not injured and kept perfectly intact.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe it.

Instead of securing the caps, 0r covers directly to the heads of the screws or tacks, which proceeding rendered them very liable to come of as the screws are inserted or to become injured when the tacks are driven in, I use plates, A, having holes, a, in their centers so that the screws, Z), or tacks, c,

pass freely through them and that by means of the screws, or tacks themselves these plates can be secured to the required spot. The edges of these plates are beveled oil', as shown in Fig. Q2, when the same are used for tacks or imitation screws, and the caps, B, are driven on by a'light blow after the tacks are inserted. Then used for real screws, as represented in Fig. l, the edges of these plates are screwed so that the caps can be secured to them by means of a `screwthread cut into their inside and that they (the caps) can be removed at pleasure. This is necessary because the screws, Z), or some of them have to be taken out and put in several times, whereas the tacks, c, or the imitation screws when once inserted are never disturbed.

The caps, B, are spun of sheet brass and plated if desired, or they may be made of German silver or of any other suitable material, all of the same size and so that they lit nicely to the plates, A, which latter are cast and need no finish or additional labor, with the exception of those serving to retain the caps of the screws, in which case it is necessary to put the plates in a lathe and cut the screw thread on their edges.

By these means the covers or heads for coffin screws can be made cheaper and more permanent than by fastening the covering directly to the heads of the screws, or tacks and the screws can be taken out and put in, as many times as may be desired, without injury to the appearance of the caps or covers.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new, and desire to se cure by Letters Patent, is

The employment of plates, A, or their equivalent, for the purpose of securing or retaining the caps or covers, B, of Collin screws or tacks, substantially as herein set forth.

WV. H. NICHOLS. lVitnesses:

J. IV. CooMBs, It. S. SPENCER. 

